The picture used here is back to front. The Apple logo always has the bite out of it to the right - trust me, I used to work for them!

I think you'll find the much derided Apple Newton predated the MS tablet. Apple's Newton 100 came out in 1993 and the first of the MS Tablet PCs around 2001..... But what's in a name.

OK if you want to be pedantic you could call the Newton a PDA and, the Tablet PC a full blown PC with a PDA case that's been fed some steroids.

Since the iPad is unlikely to run the full OSX but will most likely have a version of the iPhone OS, they aren't strictly comparable to the MS version.

Like Zipp says Apple's genius is in reinventing things and doing them right. If it's that easy, why isn't everyone else doing it?

The point is that all tablets so far have sucked. Apple's probably won't. And they'll have iTunes/The App Store/a gazillion developers to write apps for it. This hasn't happened yet with previous devices.

PC slates have failed because they use the same OS as a desktop. The input method is totally different, this is where Apple will invest their R&D unlike Microsoft who want to take the cheap option.

The writer misses the point completely. The iSlate or iPad will not be a tablet PC even though it will encroach on some PC territory. Instead the device will be a big IPOD Touch. Those who have the Touch already know that it does not replace the PC but can do a lot of the same things on a smaller scale. Most importantly, the Touch and the new device take advantage of thousands of easily downloadable free or nearly free applications. It's the access the the applications combined with a bigger screen that will make the iPad/iSlate the must- have household device of every middle class Jetson family.

@Kneel: I think it's safe to say you have nothing to add ;-) If you disagree come up with some cogent arguments, not just silly insults. You can do better I am sure.

As for everyone banging on about the Newton, go look at Wikipedia then come back to me. It was a PDA, not a tablet PC. There is a difference, albeit subtle since the Newton was a bit of a brick. A difference nonetheless.

More delusion from the Apple fans eh!

I mean 'shooting', not 'shotting', obviously. Missed the 'o' key on my Apple Newton ;-)

@newswed1 I can only assume you are joking. If not, do get some help, won't you.

@Geek -- good points. Thanks for comments.

I wonder if they will add adobe flash. They iPhone is great but I feel cheated when half the sites you visit don't work. I will never buy an apple device again

Ouch Jason you aren't going to get a review copy of the iPad are you!

Get real Jason, Did Apple claim to invent the iPhone or the MP3 player or even the GUI? Nope

But Apple did make the products that changed the paradigms.

It is not about the "origin" as such but about the confluences of technology, software, content and "need" that gives the boost to make a product mainstream

As has been pointed out, Apple's Newton far proceeds Gate's toys for boys thought experiment. The Newton failed because it did not really trigger that critical confluence.

Apple, and Jobs have made it clear—their best decisions have been deciding not to ship. Think about that a bit. Instead of sounding off like a Microsoft apologista trotting out a whinny sounding claim to irrelevance.

Why all this free publicity for Apple? Is this really news? Shame on this once quite decent magazine.

P.S. Sorry, no removable batteries. You so see we couldn't possibly open ourselves up to competition from third party manufacturers? It's just not the Apple way I'm afraid.

All the best

Steve.

I find all this hilarious. Who actually has the problem here? How many iPhone or iPod users own a Mac? Most don't. So who is taking sides? A bunch of insecure boys who have invested in products and feel the need to defend their choices, or more likely have found that a tiny bit of half-baked knowledge and repeating other people's arguments can go a long way to making you feel important on the internet. How shallow is that? (This counts for both sides of the argument by the way).People make their own choices. That might upset some of you who think your opinion is somehow more valid than theirs, but really... isn't there a bit more to life than cheer-leading multi-national corporations?
And MS did not invent the tablet PC (or anything else for that matter) - Google GRidPAd, for example.

"and didn't bring it to the masses like the MS approach"
"More delusion I am afraid."

Every laptop was monochrome in 1992, and non of them were huge sellers due to the immaturity of the hardware.
It's funny how you move the goal posts every time you receive a counter argument. So now a tablet has to have a colour screen and sell millions to be a tablet?
No one can ignore or doubt Microsoft's success or influence on global business and culture. They are one of the most successful companies ever. So why is it so hard to accept the Apple are also a hugely influential, and their products are actually quite good?

@StevieJ yes good points. I am sure that subsequent versions will solve many of the current 'disappointments'. It could indeed grow into a far more compelling proposition. The question is, will it sell in its version 1 form? Thanks for the comment!

@pabovski. My opinion piece, my goalposts. One of my main points was that there is media hype/hysteria before we even know what it is really going to be capable of. Who invented/popularised the tablet is tangential: the point was that Apple didn't. This kind of piece is meant to provoke thought: the numerous comments, many from you, suggest it's provoking at least some, lazy or not ;-)

".....meant to provoke thought"?

The only thought it provokes in me is that this is simply trolling for page hits. It's just another 'why is everyone so besotted with Apple' piece like you did before Xmas.

I've told you the sort of stuff the Staggers should be doing on the tech front. I know this sort of stuff takes time and it's easier to go for what will build the online ad revenue but still :-)

Why should we be sacking teachers/nurses etc whilst paying MS massive license fees?

Why does the NHS *always* goes for MS stuff when free alternatives exist? Is it the influence of a few 'consultants'? If so, shouldn't something be done?

Why are Comp Sci courses in some Universities becoming little more than training in the use of MS tools in order to promote Microsoft's monopoly when free alternatives exist.

Despite all the 'freedom' computer technology is supposed to be bringing us, are we becoming enslaved to a few mega-corporations? MS. Apple, News Corp....

Just a few thoughts :-)

@Tacitus: saying it's trolling for page hits is like saying, 'you just wanted to write something lots of people would want to read'.
As I have said I am interested in your thoughts on MS and may do something in that direction too. The iSlate was timely though.
It just so happens I've done a couple of things for the NS on Apple -- in my other role on Computer Business Review we are tracking thousands of companies with news, analysis, profiles and opinion for a technology decision-maker audience. I don't only write about Apple, to be fair.

The Apple Newton is being namedropped because it featured handwriting recognition and freehand sketching ability - the very things that the tablet is supposed to revolutionise.

The Newton was way ahead of it time; and technological ability, though the later versions did improve markedly but not enough to save it from being axed by the returning Steve Jobs.

A British company called Psion brought out a handwriting recognising tablet well before the Newton. Unlike the Newton however, it worked quite well.
Even dear old Amstrad brought out a wonderfully hamfisted model in 1992.

Apple is simply hyping this up to cover the lack of success of its products introduced after the Ipod.

What is the point ? A netbook is easier to read in bed and a Kindle has much longer lasting batteries.
Only weirdos are reading e-books anyway.

There's always a few JEALOUS, DELUDED, Limeys to post that they've invented everything. You live for America's product launches! LOL

Thanks @SimonSourPuss. Now that it's finally here, I take it all back. It's less compelling than we thought. No camera, no USB, no removable battery, only 10 hours battery life (and even that's a claim!), and no Flash support. Apart from that, a brilliant new take on the old tablet concept.